Wringer assembly



June 5, 1945. T. R. SMITH WRINGER ASSEMBLY original Filed Jan. 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l Q "wd INVENTOR. 77ans @5in/#14 June 5, 1945. T. R. SMITH 2,377,820

WRINGER ASSEMBLY Original Filed Jan. 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i BY /V i June 5,' 1945. -T. R. SMITH 2,377,820

WR'INGER ASSEMBLY Original Filed Jan. 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 5, 1945. T. R. SMITH WRINGER ASSEMBLY Original Filed Jan. `5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 5, 1945 WRINGER ASSEMBLY Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assigner to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware original sppliauon January 5, 1940, serial No. 312,556. Divided and this applicationAJune 23.

1941, Serial No. 399,368

Claims. (ci. (s-263) The present invention relates to a novel wringer assembly, the subject matter of which is a division of my co-pending patent application Serial No. 312,556, nled January 5, 1940, and reference is also made to applicants copending application Serial No. 399,367, filed June 23, 1941. The novel construction is shown embodied in a power driven swinging wringer and relates particularly to a novel quick release under the positive -control of the operator, so that should an emergency arise or should the operator for any other reason desire to separate the rolls, the pressure on the wringer rolls can be instantly relieved.

One of the novel features of the present invention resides in the mechanism for quickly and positively releasing and relieving the pressure exerted upon the wringer rolls, whenever an emergency arises. In the disclosed embodiment, a release plate or. bar `is positioned on each side of the Wringer frame adjacent the bite of the wringer rolls which, when contacted by the operator as by means of her hand or other part of her body, automatically and instantaneously trips the mechanism retaining the rolls under pressure. These release bars or plates are so located as to be most accessible to the operator and so arranged that a. relatively light engagement is all that is required to trip and relieve the pressure, so that the rolls may be widely separated. This feature is of extreme importance in that it eliminates or greatly minimizes the danger of injury resulting from the hand or other part of the body or clothing becoming caught between the rolls.

The invention further relates to a novel wringer `construction in which the wringer housing is made sectional with the upper part or cap permitting `ready access to the tension reset and release mechanism which -with the upper roll, is carried in the wringer cap or upper section of the wringer housing.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby. y

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modicationand change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructionsv without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical cross section through the complete wringer assembly, including the wringer head.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the complete wringer assembly but vwith the wringer cap removed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary enlarged views Yof the quick release and reset mechanism for the wringer rolls.

Figure 7 is a diasassembled view in perspective of the quick release and reset mechanism.

Referring. more particularly to the disclosure in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the novel swinging wringer is shown as rotatably mounted upon a wringer post or support 2 secured to and positioned at one side of a washing machine tub. l

Power is supplied to the wringer and the rolls driven by means of a vertical drive shaft 3 coupled to a roll drive shaft associated with the lower wringer roll through suitable gearing and clutching mechanism which form no part of the present invention, but are more clearly disclosed in my co-pending original application Serial No. 312,556, of which this is a division. This gearing and clutching mechanism is shown as actuated through a control handle 2U shown in the neutral position in full outline in Figure 2, but

whichy may be moved to the position A or B for rotating the rolls in the desired direction, or to the position C in which the clutch is disengaged and the wringer released from. latched or indexed position to permit swinging movement as more clearly disclosed in my above co-pending application.

The lower wringer roll 2| is driven from the roll drive shaft through a universal coupling assembly 24 to the shaft 25 of the lower wringer roll 2|. This universal joint includes a male member 26 keyed to the lower rod shaft 2| and provided with tapered external splines 21 adapted to mesh with the complementary splines 28 carried in a -bearing 29. This bearingy is provided with projecting lugs 30 and annular ribs 3|, the ribs seating' in complementary guide channels formed in the lower frame casting 32, and the lugs 30 forming stop members.

'I'he lower roll shaft 25 is mounted at one end in a bearing 29 cradled in a pocket in the casting or frame 32 (see Figure 3), and at its other end in the bearing 34 (see Figure 1). In this latter bearing is also positioned a coil spring 35 for forcing the lower roll shaft 25 into constant engagement between the splines 21 and 28. A pivotally mounted drain plate 31 adapted to be tripped by suitable mechanism associated with the lower roll is disclosed in the drawings but forms no part of the present invention.

The upper wringer roll 4l is carried in ball bearings 42 supported in the wringer cap 43 by means of bearing hangers 44 secured to spaced studs 45 depending from the underside of the wringer cap. This wringer cap is guided at each end by a guide rod 46 received in an opening 41 in the caps or supports 48 for the adjustably mounted tension bolts 49. These guide rods are pivotally mounted on and depend from horizontal pins 50 mounted in wringer guide brackets or lugs 6| depending from the under side of the wringer cap at its extreme ends. To prevent the wringer cap from becoming completely separated from the wringer frame, one of the guide rods 46 is provided with a retaining pin 52. Each cap or support 48 is held down against the shoulders or ledges 53 of the wringer frame 32 by means of springs 54 which exert their pressure upon each cap or support 48 through the tension fbolts49 by bearing at their upper end against the underside of the ledge or shoulder 53 and at their lower end against the nut 55. Each spring is held under compression, the amount of which may Abe adjusted by the nut 55. The upper wringer roll 4| is held in tension against the lower roll 2i by means of a pair of tension bars 56, the outer end of each riding on a roller 51 in the hanger 44 and being under roller 58 which is rotatably mounted in each cap or support 46 for the tension bolts, thereby applying the pressure exerted by the tension springs 54 to the upper roll, forcing it down against the lower-roll. 'Ihe tension bars 56 are forced outwardly between the rolls 51 and 58 by means of a tension reset handle 59 secured upon a shaft 60 rotatable in the wringer cap 43. This structure is clearly shown in Figures 1, 5, 6, and 7. The tension reset shaft 60 is provided with oppositely projecting arms 6I and 62, the latter having a downwardly projecting lug 63. These arms are adapted to engage with oppositely disposed lugs or projections 64 on the upper face of the hub 65 of a tension eccentric plate 66 carrying eccentric pins 61 on its under side, to which are pivotally mounted the inner ends of the tension bars 56.- Thus, rotation of the arms 6I and 62 will cause them to engage with the lugs 64 on the hub 65 and rotate thetension eccentric plate 66 whereby to force the tension bars 56 outwardly. A washer secured to the lower side of the shaft 60 retains the bars 56 upon the eccentric pins 61.

When the tensionbars have been extended to the proper position for locking the rolls under pressure, an extension 68 on the wringer release lever 69 will engage with or seat in the slot 10 cut in the periphery of the eccentric plate 66 and hold the tension bars 56 in their extended positions until the release lever 69 is tripped by engagement witheither of its tripping 4bars 1I, and moved from its central position against the tension of a centering spring 12 Figs. 1 and 4. This leaf spring 12 is mounted upon the under side of the wringer cap and functions to, return the release lever to its central or set position after it has been tripped by the operator'. Tripping the release lever 69 releases the tension eccentric plate 66 and allows the tension bars 56 to be forced back and inwardly by the tension of the springs 64 acting through the rollers 58 against the cam surfaces 13 at the outer end of the tension bars 56. This release lever comprises a cradle-like structure pivotally mounted at 14 in spaced brackets l5 depending from the under side of the wringer cap 43 and held therein by bolts 15a and strap 15b. Stop lugs 16 are adapted to prevent longitudinal movement of the release lever.

The bars 56 are formed with arcuate shaped portions 11 which simultaneously engage the circumference of a spacer 18 which seats upon the washer 18a and loosely against the shaft 60, in order that the impact force resulting from the tension release may be absorbed by this spacer so that no shock load is received on the shaft 6U, and transmitted to other parts of the wringer mechanism. These arcuate portions 11 also prevent the bars 56 from being retracted over center. In order that the tension reset handle 59 may be returned to its normal position lengthwise of the wringer cap 43, the invention comprehends a coil spring 19 encompassing the hub 65 and having its ends bent in such manner that one end will seat against and be carried by the lug or projection 63 as it is rotated in the resetting operation, and the other end seats against the stationary projection depending from the under surface of the wringer cap. Thus, after the handle is rotated to put the wringer into tension, it will be automatically brought back to its normal position by the tension of this spring.

I claim:

l. In a wringer construction having a frame comprising an upper and a lower section, a roll carried in each section, a cap positioned upon the upper face of the lower section at each end thereof, tension springs secured toy each cap to maintain these caps under tension, a roller carried in each cap, and a quick release and reset mechanism carried in the upper section, said mechanism comprising a stub shaft, a handle secured thereto for rotating the stub shaft, a notched plate secured to the shaft, a pair of tension bars eccentrically connected to the plate in such manner that rotation of the handle in one direction forces the bars outwardly and their outer end under the roller on each cap to raise the cap against thetension of the springs, a release lever having a tripping bar on each side of the wringer frame, an extension on this lever adapted to seat in the notch on the plate for locking the tension bars in extended position, and a cam surface on the end of each tension bar so that when the release lever is tripped, the pressure of the rollers in the caps seating on the cam surface will force the tension bars to a retracted position.

2. In a wringer construction having a frame comprising an upper and a lower section, each carrying a pressure roll, a cap carried in each end of the upper section' and seating upon the lowerv section at eachv end thereof, tension springs carried in each end of the lower sectionand connected to the caps, a pair of tension bars carried in the upper section adapted to /engage and elevate the caps against the tensionof the springs and apply pressure to the rolls, manual actuating mechanism on said frame for forcing said bars into engagement with and for elevating the caps, and tripping mechanism at the opposite sides of said frame for releasing the bars permitting their disengagement from the caps and release of the pressure on the rolls.

3. In a wringer construction having a frame comprising an upper and a lower section, a roll carried in each section, a cap at each end of and supported upon the lower section, tension bolts secured to each cap, a roller carried in each cap, and cooperating quick release and reset mechanism carried in the upper section, said mechanism including a rotatable handle, a pair of tension bars eccentrically mounted in such manner that they may be forced outwardly by said'handle and each engage one of said rollers and elevate its respective cap to thereby place each cap under tension and depress and force the upper roll against the lower roll with the requisite pressure for the wringing operation, and a release lever adapted to be tripped by the operator to release said tension bars from their set position and engagement with the caps and relieve the pressure applied to the rolls.

4. In a wringer construction having a frame comprising an upper and a lower section, each carrying a pressure roll, a cap positioned upon the upper face of the lower section and at'each end thereof, tension springs carried in each end of the lower section and connected to the caps, means for connecting and retaining the caps and upper section in a rigid assembly during normal operation including a manually rotatable handle and a pair of tension members adapted to engage the caps CII comprising an upper and a lower section, a rollcarried in each section, a cap positioned within each of the opposite ends of the upper section and adapted to seat upon the lower section, tension springs secured to each cap, and a quick release and reset mechanism carried in the upper section and including a pair of tension bars associated with the tension springs for applying roll tension, a release lever adapted to be tripped by the operator to retract the bars and thereby release roll tension, the release lever having a tripping surface 'ron each side of the upper section and the lever being pivotally connected to the upper section in such a manner as to turn about a substantially horizontal axis when operated from either side of the wringer frame, and a manually operable reset handle located above the upper section for actuating the tension bars and applying roll tension.

THOMAS R. SMITH. 

